According to the music industry trade publication Pollstar, METALLICA was the top-grossing hard rock/metal band in the world during the period of November 22, 2018 to November 20, 2019. During that 12-month period, the group sold $179 million worth of concert tickets for its 48 reported shows around the globe.
The world’s second-highest-grossing hard rock/metal artist during that period was BON JOVI, who sold $134 million worth of tickets worldwide for its 31 reported performances. Next on the list was KISS, who were the highest grossing hard rock/metal band in North America during the reporting period. Overall, the band — which kicked off their “End Of The Road” farewell tour on January 31 — sold $89.8 million worth of tickets for 74 reported concerts.
Pollstar‘s reporting period encompassed the majority of the 2018 tour by TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and the first week of the Yuletide rockers’ 2019 trek. Altogether, TSO grossed $65.7 million during the 12-month period, selling 1.02 million tickets along the way. Notably, only Elton John sold more tickets in North America during the same time frame.
IRON MAIDEN‘s ongoing “Legacy Of The Beast” tour also did strong business, as its 44 stops during the reporting period grossed $49.5 million. All but six of those shows took place in North America, where the band’s average attendance was more than 13,000.
Here are Pollstar‘s Top 10 Worldwide Hard Rock/Metal Tours of 2019:
01. METALLICA ($179 million, 1.74 million tickets, 48 shows)
02. BON JOVI ($134 million, 1.31 million tickets, 31 shows)
03. KISS ($89.8 million, 890,000 tickets, 74 shows)
04. TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ($65.7 million, 1.02 million tickets, 104 shows)
05. IRON MAIDEN ($49.5 million, 750,000 tickets, 44 shows)
06. QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT ($45.5 million, 370,000 tickets, 25 shows)
07. AEROSMITH ($34.1 million, 165,000 tickets, 34 shows)
08. TOOL ($31.6 million, 330,000 tickets, 24 shows)
09. RAMMSTEIN ($29.8 million, 285,000 tickets, 7 shows)
10. GUNS N’ ROSES ($26.5 million, 250,000 tickets, 13 shows)
Here, meanwhile, are Pollstar‘s Top 20 North American Hard Rock/Metal Tours of 2019:
01. KISS ($81.6 million, 800,000 tickets, 67 shows)
02. TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ($65.7 million, 1.02 million tickets, 104 shows)
03. METALLICA ($45.8 million, 380,000 tickets, 23 shows)
04. QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT ($45.4 million, 370,000 tickets, 25 shows)
05. IRON MAIDEN ($36.9 million, 510,000 tickets, 38 shows)
06. AEROSMITH ($34.1 million, 165,000 tickets, 34 shows)
07. TOOL ($28.4 million, 280,000 tickets, 21 shows)
08. GUNS N’ ROSES ($20.1 million, 165,000 tickets, 11 shows)
09. SHINEDOWN ($18.9 million, 375,000 tickets, 71 shows)
10. DEF LEPPARD ($18.7 million, 160,000 tickets, 23 shows)
11. ZZ TOP ($15.8 million, 265,000 tickets, 60 shows)
12. DISTURBED ($15.4 million, 260,000 tickets, 37 shows)
13. BREAKING BENJAMIN ($14.5 million, 410,000 tickets, 48 shows)
14. THE WHO ($12.7 million, 120,000 tickets, 10 shows)
15. LYNYRD SKYNYRD ($10 million, 150,000 tickets, 20 shows)
16. GRETA VAN FLEET ($9.6 million, 195,000 tickets, 38 shows)
17. ROGER WATERS ($8.6 million, 85,000 tickets, 7 shows)
18. JOURNEY ($7 million, 50,000 tickets, 11 shows)
19. GODSMACK ($6.5 million, 125,000 tickets, 21 shows)
20. HEART ($6.1 million, 100,000 tickets, 11 shows)
For more information, visit Pollstar.com.
